Flush valve



Sept. 1. 1925. r 1,552,261

H. J. BELCHER I FLUSH VALVE Filed Dec. 1 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 MM v) BY M; W

ATTORNEY WITNESS: I

ELUSH VALVE Filed 10, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS:

Sept. 1 1925. I 1,552,261

H. J. BELCHER FLUSH VALVE I Filed Dec. 0, 19 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J6. a 2 22 v ljl/I/I/I/II/I/I/IIIJ TI] l I I I I I I I I [III/III W Y jzlz fiezmer WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED. STATES HAROLD JOS. BELCHER, OF ALGIERS, LOUISIANA.

FLUSH VALVE.

Application filed December 10, 1923. Serial No. 679,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD Jos. BELCHER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Algiers, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flush Valves, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This inventionrelates to devices for fiush-. ing toilets and the like and has for its object the provision of a novel valve structure which, when opened, will remain open a predetermined length of time to permit flow of water, the device embodying a motor for returning the parts to initial position to control valve devlce, WhlCll casing is condiscontinue the flow.

. An important object is the provision of a control valve mechanism of this character which will eliminate use of the ordinary and well known tank and be far more sightly than the usual construction especially as the device may be easily concealed within a wall at the time the plumbing fixtures are installed. I

Another object is. the provision of a mechanism of this character which is provided with adjusting means whereby the length of time'during which water will flow may be varied to meet different conditions. An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install, easy to operate, eflicient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art. I

.With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of'construction to be'hereinafter more fully described, and claimed, and illustrated I in the accompanying drawings, in which I v Figure 1 is an elevation of the device. Figure 2 is an elevation taken at right anglesjto Figurel, the wall being in section.

Figure 3 is a section taken longitudinally 'throughthe motor and inlet valve construction. i

section on the'line.

ings, the letter A represents a wall within whichjthe device is installed and Hindisates a water inlet p peuhfle (3 repre ents the water outlet pipe which leads to a closet bowl or thelike. 4

In carrying out my invention, I provide a casing designated broadly by the numeral 10 and including .a relatively large lower portion 11 and an upper portion12 which is formed partially cylindrical for containing a water motor including a hub 13 carried by a shaft 14 and equipped with radial arms 15 at the ends of which are mounted,

paddles or buckets 16.1 Extending into one side of the upper portion 12 of this casing is an inlet pipe 17. V

The numeral 18 represents the casing of a nected with the pipes B and 17, and this casing is provided internally with a seat 19' normally closed by a valve;20 carried by a is a coil spring 22 which engages against the valve 20 for the purpose of normally hold-' ing it against its seat. However, this valve is preferably of such construction that the water pressure itself will tend to holdit .closed. It should be stated that the plunger 21 is slidable through a suitable packing gland 23 at the end of the cap 24- which closes one end of the casing 18. The plunger. projects considerably beyond the packing gland and has its terminal rounded as shown.

Mounted over an opening D in the wall structure A is a plate or disk 25 which forms a closure for th1s opening and whlch also forms one bearing for an operating shaft 26 which is also journaled in a step bearing 27 on the front of the casing por tion 12. At its outer end this control shaft 26'carries a handle 28 which is movable to effect opening of the valve by means to be described. 1

Rotatable upon'the shaft 26 is a sleeve 29 which is provided at one end with a crankarm 30 pivotally connected at 31 with a link 32 which is pivoted at 33 upon the free end of a lever 34 which has its other end pivoted at upon a bracket 36 carried by the cap 2 1 of the valve structure 18. On the shaft 26 is a pin 26 adapted-to engage a. pin 29 on the sleeve 29'. By grasping the handle 28 and turning it to theleft, it is quite obvious that the lever 34 will be swung andwill press the plunger 21 inwardly to unseat the valve.

20 and permit water to 17 into the motor,

1 order to holdthe p rts in thisp sition flow through-the pipe to permit water to flow for a certain length of time, I provide a ratchet 37 which is carried by the sleeve 29 and with which cooperates a tooth 38 on the lower edge of an elongated bar 39 which is suitably pivoted at at upon the casing. lVhen the handle is turned, it is quite apparent that the engagement of the tooth 38 with one ofthe teeth of the ratchet will operate to hold the parts 29, 30, 32 and 34 against returning movement until the bar 39 is actually disengaged by the 'means to be described, it being apparent however, that the handle 28 may drop down and restore the shaft 26 to initial position.

Suitably journaled at the outside of the casing is a shaft 41 equipped atone one with a worm wheel 42 with which'meshes worm 4 3 On the lower end of a vertical shaft l i journaled in suitable bearings and carrying a worm wheel 45 meshing, in turn, with a worm 46 on a stub shaft 4:7. Also mounted on this stub shaft and rotatable with the worm 46 thereon is a. gear l8 which meshes with a pinion $9 on the motor shaft 14. R0- tatably mounted upon the shaft 41 at the end thereof most remote from the worm 4:3, is a pinion 50 carrying a clutch element 51 adapted to be engaged by a coacting clutch element carried by grooved collar 52' splined on the shaft 41. For normally urglng the two clutch elements into coactmg engagement, 11 provide a coil spring 5% which enc1rcles the shaft 21 and which has one end abutting against the collar 58 and its other end engaging against a stop collar 55.

Mounted on the casing are guides 56 through which is slidable an elongated rack bar 57 meshing with the pinion 50 and normally urged int-o lowered position by means of a coil spring 58 which encircles the rack bar and which bearsagainst the low rmost guide 56 and against ahead 59 at the lower end of the bar. This rack bar is so positioned that when it is raised itfwill str' e against the bar '39 and lift it so to release the tooth 38 from engagement with the ratchet 3? ant permit Lllspring valve 20 to close. ti 2e during which water will flow, 1 provide screw 60 which is engaged with the upper end of'the rack bar 57 and which has itsyh'ead designed to engage with the bar t is quite apparent that by screwing this screw in or out as the case may be, the time requiredfor the rack bar to reach and lift'the bar 39 may be varied.

The clutch control means comprises a shifting fork 61 which is pivoted at 62 and which haspn'e end engaged with: the grooved collar 53. P'iv'otally connected at 63 with the other end of this shifting fork is a link 64 which is inturnpivotally connected with a crank arm 65 depending from and secured to the operating shaft 26.

Inthe "operation of "the device it will be In order to permit variation in the seen-that ordinarily the valve 20 isclosed so that water cannot pass through the casing 18 to the motor structure. It is also true that the pressure of the spring 22 of the turning movement of the sleeve 29 and the crank arm 30 will move the lever 34 and press the plunger 21 inwardly to unseat the va ve 20. When this is done water flows through the valve seat 19 and through the pipe 17 into the casing o-fthe motor and the result will be that the motor will be driven while the water dischar ing therethrough will pass into the lower portion 11 of the casing and out through the pipe C to the bowl. After moving the handle to start the oper'atioinit is intended that the handlebe quickly. released so that it may return to normal position. 7 7

When the handle is turned as above described. it is apparent that the ratchet 37 will ride under the tooth 38and that this tooth will prevent retrograde movement. In addition to unseating the valve, the initial movement of the handle 28 results in swinging the fork 61' upon its pivot 62 so that the clutch element 52 will be disen'gaged from the clutch element 51, while the drop ping back of the handle reengages the clutch. The rotary movement of the motor is imparted to the gear 48 which in turn drives the gearing and causes rotation of the shaft 41. When the clutch element 52 is in endesircd to effect flushing.

gagement with the element 5'1, it is apparent that the pinion 50 will be locked for rotation with the shaft ll so that as the-pinion continues to rotate the rack 57 will be moved upwardly. /Vhe'n the I'QCk'PGdClI GSthQ upper limit of its movement thescrew 60 carried thereby will engage beneath the' free end of the bar 39 and lift the latter so as to withdraw the tooth-38 from its engagement with the ratchet. The moment the tooth 38 is lifted it is apparentth'at the pressure ofthe spring 22 in the valve structurewill operate to return the parts except the'rack to normal position in which they will'remain un-' til the lever or handle 28 is again swung to effect flushing. The rack is not lowered until the handle is again'lifted or turned to effect a subsequent flushing;whereupon the disengagement of the clutch permits the rack to drop down. I r

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings, it is apparent that I have thus provided a novel flush control device which is manually released but which automatically resets itself after water has flowed for a predetermined length of time. The device is entirely automatic in action except for the manual release and will re-' quire no personal attention. A distinct feature of advantage is that this mechanism will obviate the use of the wellknown tank which occupies considerable space on the wall and which is more or less unsightly. The present device is readily adapted to be built intova wall during the construction of a building or during the installation of the plumbing fixtures, and there is nothing visible except the operating handle.

WVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangementof parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed r 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotary paddle wheel journaled within the casing adjacent said inlet, a valve device interposed between said inlet and a source of supply including a body having a seat, a valve normally closing said seat and having an operating plunger, a pivoted lever engaging said plunger, a. shaft having a crank connection with said lever, a handle on said shaft, catch means for holding said shaft against retrograde movement subsequent to rotation thereof, and means driven by said paddle wheel for releasing said catch 1 means, said means having a longitudinally movable rack bar, a shaft havinga driving connection with the shaft of the paddle wheel, a pinion rotatable on said last named shaft and meshing with said rack, clutch means on said last named shaft engageable with the pinion for locking the same for r0- tation with the shaft, and means connected with said handle and said clutch for throwing the same into and out of gear.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a casing having an: inlet and an outlet, a rotarypaddle wheel journaled within the casing adjacent said inlet, a valve device interposed between said inlet and a source of supply including a body having a seat, a valve normally closing said seat and having an operating plunger, a pivoted lever engaging said plunger, a shaft having. a crank. connection with said lever, a handle on said shaft, catch means for holding said shaft against retrograde movement subsequent to rotation thereof, means driven by said paddle wheel for releasing said catch means, said means having, a longitudinally movable rack bar, a shaft having a driving connection with the shaft of the paddle wheel, a pinion rotatable on said last named shaft and meshing with said rack, clutch means on said last named shaft engageable with the pinion for locking the same for rotation with the shaft, means connected with said handle and said clutch for throwing the same intoand out of gear, including a shifting fork operatively connected with said clutch member, a' crank on the first named shaft, and a link connection between said crank and said shifting. fork.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotary paddle wheel journale'd within said casing, a spring closedvalve interposed between said inlet and a source of supply, said valve having an operating plunger, a pivoted lever engaging said plunger, an operating shaft equipped with a handle and having a crank connection With said lever, a ratchet on said shaft, a pivoted arm having a tooth engag-' ing with said ratchet, a rotary shaft driven by said paddlewheel, a clutch splined upon said shaft, a pinion rotatable on said last named shaft and carrying a clutch member,

a longitudinally slidable rack bar meshing with said pinion, a movable fork engaging the first named clutch element, and having a crank connection with said operating shaft, said rack being movable to engage said arm and lift the toothfrom engagement with the ratchet. I

In testimony whereof I- affix my signature.

HAROLD JOS. BELCHER. 

